Rhacochilus toxotes
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Rhacochilus toxotes |
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Rhacochilus toxotes is, with a maximum length of 47 centimeters, the largest species of surf perch (Embiotocidae). It lives on the coast of the eastern Pacific from Mendocino north of San Francisco to central Baja California and the island of Guadalupe . The fish live in rocky areas, but also in the seaweed forest and near landing stages at depths of up to 46 meters. They often form small schools.
The fish are caught by sport anglers and commercially.
features
Aside from its size, the most noticeable feature of Rhacochilus toxotes is its plump lips . Its color is variable, mostly silver-olive, the back can be blackish, bluish or purple, below the lateral line organ they are lighter. One or two dark stripes can be seen on the flanks. The pectoral fins are yellow or orange, the pelvic fins , sometimes the anal fin , are blackish. Young fish up to a length of 15 centimeters are more pink with a dark stripe on the sides. The fin rays at the beginning of the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin are slightly longer than the hard rays.
literature
- Eschmeyer, Herald, Hamann: Pacific Coast Fishes . Peterson Field Guides, ISBN 0-395-33188-9
Web links
- Rhacochilus toxotes on Fishbase.org (English)